Implement adjusting mechanism



R. D. Ac'roN 2330,57

IMPLEMENT ADJUSI'ING MECHANISM Original Filed Sept. 21, 1942 Sheets-Shet l 0V@ u "s R. D. AcToN IMPLEMENT ADJUSTING MECHANISM Original Filed Sept. 2l, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 ov. HQ'?. R- D- ACTON 2430597 IMPLEMENT ADJUSTING MECHANISM Original Filed Sept. 21, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. Il, 194?. R. D. A'roN IMPLEMENT AnJusTme MEcmmrsm Original Filed Sept. 2l, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheekl 4 Nofvl 11, 1947. R. D. AcToN IMPLEMENT ADJUSTING MECHNISII 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Sept. 21. 1942 Nov, M9 194'?. R. D. Ac'roN v 2,430,597

IMPLEMENT ADJUSTING MECHANISM Original Filed Sept. 21, 1942 G-Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. Russe/ D. 4d-on BY Pabo?. Q- {Pif-71.19.

v Patented Nov. 11,1947 l.

.and adjusting uid-pressur Figure 4 is a cross section through one of the `huid-pressure devices showing the adjustable stop` mechanism; t i t Figure 51s a vertical transverse section through the body of the tractor with va portion `of the show the structure thereof;A 1 Figure 6 is a section .takenonthe line 6 `of 1 Figure 5 showing the selection means for, operat ij LEMENT Russel n. Anton, obtenga'. national Harvester Company, a corporatlonot' New Jersey j n continuation Inf-"application:senni No;

Ill., assimiler meer; y f j s@meinten21.1.1942. 'rms npniicntinn Anni-'13,

. This invention, which is av continuation-of my previous` application, Serial No. '1459,112, Viiled.-

September" 21, 1942, v`for'V Implement adjusting mechanism, relates toaI hydrauliclift system for tractors having a pluralityofflmplementsinde' pendentlyconnectedk thereto; 'More siaeciiiczallxny the invention relates to' an improved hydraulic: lift means and; controlstherefor-to `provide for j adjustment ofindependent implementsf. apart v.from the normal lifting and lowering operations." The principal objectof the'jinvention is topror'fvide hydraulic -liftingme'chanism's for liftingk and, adjusting implements `by means lof which the,k implementsmay be adjusted working 'position and lifted and returned to working position without disturbingthe adjustment. More spec'ica1ly,

vthe invention@ relates tol a uidfprfessuredevice lifting mechanism and a control valve mechanism therefor in which an adjustable stop device is utilized for determiningv the 'maximum travel of the fluid-pressure devicein one direction.

Another specific object is to provide a controll device bymeans of which a fluid-pressure lifting device may be operated along with a stop mechanism or independent ofthe stop mechanism.

These objects and others which will be `apparent are accomplished by a construction such` as embodied in the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a conventional ngeneral-purpose type of tractor having in iplementsv 4 mounted thereon and includingrthe hydraulic lift:

system of the invention.,v

Figure 2 isa side elevationof the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevation -of one of the lifting e devices;

power lift mechanism casi ng broken away to ingfthe independent power lift devices; 'Figure 7 is a section taken on the line 1- 1'of Figure 5 showing the valve mechanism within the power lift casing; Figure 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure7; 1

kFigure 9 is a section taken on the line 9-,9 of

Figure 5 rotated through 180 degrees;

Figure 10 is a section taken on the line Ill-I0 of Figure 14;

'n Figure l1 'is a sectional lv iewfof thejmechanism pshown in Figure 5 viewed as if tekenen theline l Figureslz and. 13 yshow diilerent vpositi'onsfoff f :the control kvalve portion of Figure 7 ;l l p v Figure 14 is a section taken on the line M -It oi Figuren; n

- FigureV 15 is a section taken on `the line `Irl-I5 .b'fFigurel l :Figurelis a sectional view similar to Figure 12- showing' a'different valve positionfand with portion of thestructure brokenaway by. a sec#l 1 ondary section to better showtheA uid conduits;

Sandlig'ure 17 isidentical with Figure lexcept thatanother valve position is shown.

Figures 1 and'2 illustratea conventional type qol-.general-purposev tractor with implements of tor consistsjessentially of arear body portion IU and front frame structure ll, a front bolster I2 carrying dirigible wheels I3, rear traction wheels I 'm'ounted on axles I5 extending from axle housings IG, a radiator hood vand fuel tank superstructure I1, a. steering vwheel |8, and an operators station I9. Transverse, laterally extendv`ing tool bars 20 at thefront of thetractor-carry cultivating beam structures 2| adapted to be liftc ed by lift rods 22 connected to brackets 23, which are in turn connected to lifting levers 24 pivot- {allymounted on the transverse toolbars 20. A vpush rod 25, at each sideA of the tractor is conn'ected-to oneI of the levers 2Q and is in eiect an extension''ofzapiston rod 26 extending from a piston '21 mounted for reciprocation ina cylluder-28. Said piston and cylinder alongvwith mechanism to be hereinafter described make up a Huid-pressurev device.

c At the re'aiyof the tractor, tool-carrying bars v 29` are pivoted to brackets I5' on the rear axle `structures I6' o f thetractor, said tool bars rbeing adapted to be lifted by liftingrods' 30 connected to lifting arms ofrock shafts 3| pivotally mount- .ledat the rear of the tractor .on a bracket structure 32. Quadrants 33carried on the independent `rockl shafts 3| at the .opposite sides'of the tractor Aare engageable by adjustinglevers 34 'which are pivoted on the rock-shafts; I'he levers 34am connected by push rods 35 with lifting cyl-` inders 36. As illustrated, the cylinders 28 and the cylinders 36 'are respectively pivotally connected to react against laterally extending brackets 3l securedto the-rear body portion lll of the tractor.

A casing- 38 is inserted throughan opening in the bottom of the rear portion I'of the tractor,

, Said latch member is pivoted on the housing 46 at 51 and carries an extension arm 56 engageable 70 with a plunger 58 in the pump housing45 adapted as shown in Figures 2 and 7. Said casing encloses the pump mechanism and the valve control mechanism for the supply of iluid under pressure to the lifting cylinders 28 and 36. Except for a duplication of parts, which will be hereinafter 5 described, this mechanism is very similar to that shown and described in U. S. Patent 2,324,866, issued JulyV 20, 1943, to Cari W. Mott, and shows one means of supplying iluid under pressure and of controlling the ow of fluid to and from the lifting cylinders. It will be apparent, however, as the description continues .that the invention can be adapted to other systems of :duid pres' sure supply.

A pump drive shaft 38', which is adapted to be driven from the rear end of the tractor transmission, as shown in the Mott Patent 2,269,983, extends through an end wall of the casing 38 and carries, mounted thereon, pump gears 39 and 39. These gears 39 and 39"arerespectively located in pump chambers 40 and 46 and cooperate respectively with a Asecond set of pump gears 4| and 4 I The shaft 38' operates in such direction as to operate the gear pumps to obtain liquid through intake passages 42 and 42', respectively, communicating withthe bottom of the casing 38 lwhich serves as a reservoir. Fluid from the pump gears 39 and 4| is delivered under pressure to the high pressure side of the pump chamber shown in Figure l0 which communicates by means of a conduit 43 with a chamber 43'. Fluid from the gears 39 and 4| is delivered under pressure through the conduit 44 to a chamber' 44. By inspection of Figure 7, it will be understood that the pump housing and valve structure consists of a rst or pump housing -45 which ts against the wall plate 45 of the casing 38, and a second or valve housing 46 which abuts against the forward face of the iirst housing 45. The housing 45, as best shown in Figure 14, is formed with a dividing wall 46'v between the pump chambers which are completed by the wall plate 45 abutting the rear face of the pump gears 39 and 4| and the face of the housing 46 abutting the forward face of the pump gears 39' and 4|'.

- The housing 45 has the conduit 44 and the chamber 44 which forms means of communication between the pump, the valve device and the outlet conduits, and the conduit 43 which communi- Y cates, by means of a 'conduit 46." formed in the 50 face of wall plate 45' of thecasing, with the chamber 43. 4 l.

` Referring to Figure 7,1the valve housing 46 is provided with a longitudinal'b'ore v4`| which communicates with the high pressure fluid chamber 44. A -sleeve 48 mounted for reciprocation'in said bore is carried on a transverse pin 48 which l projects through slots 49 in opposite walls of the bore, projecting outwardly as shown in Figure 8. An actuating member 50 has two spaced arms 60 50 rigidly secured to a shaft 5| which extends through a bore'52 inthe valve housing 46. Said spaced arms 50 extend downwardly and slidably engagev the pin 48' whichvproiects through the sleeve 48, as shown in dottedlines in Figure 7.

The actuating member 5|! is provided with a ,n headA portion53 .formedwith ashoulder 54 engageable with a notch55 on a latchmember 56.

to be actuated by the fluid pressure in the chamber 44' as best shown in Figures '1 and 11. The Y latch member 56 also has an extension arm 56" 4 tted over a hollow fitting 68 threaded into a threaded opening 66' in the housing member 46. Said iltting includes a spring 6| acting to normally maintain a ball valve 62 in position to close an opening 63 communicating with the interior of the housing 46. ,An opening 64 in the top of the fitting 68 permits fluid flow when the valve 62 is opened by pressure to lift the cap 59 and thereby lift the extensionrarm 56" of the latch member 56. i

The shaft 5|, previously referred to, extends laterally through a sleeve 65, corresponding to the shaft 5| of the control device just described, in a second control device, which, in other re- 5 spects, exactly-'is identical with the device just described and bears corresponding numerals. For convenience these control devices may be designated as units A and B respectively. The shaft 5I extends through the side wall of the casing 38, through the adjacent side wall of the tractor body I0 andis rigidly secured to an operating member 66. Coupled as indicated at 65' is an extension 65" which likewise extends outside the tractor and is rigidly secured to an operating member 6l by the welded connection indicated at 61. A sleeve 68, rotatably mounted on the shaft 5| between the members 66 and 61, provides a means for pivotally attaching on a longitudinal axis an operating lever 69, in the manner indicated at 68', and which extends upwardly and rearwardly to Within reach of -the operator. Leaf springs 16 normally maintain the lever 69 in a vertical position between the two operating members 66 and 61. Spaced plates 1|, rigidly secured to the lever 69 by screws 1|', are of an extent suflicient to engage both the operating members 66 and 6'1 when the control lever 68 is in its central position, see Figure 6. As shown inA Figure 9, a slotted plate 72, secured to the tractor, is provided for positively guiding different positions of the control lever 68. This lever 69 can be either pulled directly back or pushed forwardly with a slight lateral movement. In both movements, both of the operating members 66 and 61 are carried with the lever. `The lever can also be moved in lateral directions and thereafter moved either forwardly or rearwardly.

Springs 13, as shown in Figure 5, are provided respectively with the valve units for urging the actuating members 58 in a direction to move the sleeve 48 to open position to the right, as viewed in Figure 1,2. The latch member 56 is therefore engageable with the head portion 53 of the actuating member 50 tov prevent the return of the sleeve to open position as shown in Figure '7.

The sleeve member 48, as shown in Figures 7, 12, 13, 16, and 17 is adapted to move in an axial direction to regulate the iow of liquid through an arcuate opening 14 formed in the Valve housing 46. When in the closed position of Figure '7, liquid pressure isbuilt up in the chamber 44', as shown in vFigure 11, whereby iiuid is delivered through conduits 15 and 'I6 formed in an outlet e member 1l securedto the outer face of the wall plate45' of the casing 38.

The sleeve 48 isl provided in its upper side with two arcuate slots "I8 and 19, the shape of which A is shown in the cross sectional view in Figure 7.

' The slots are positioned to communicate, during the travel of the sleeve 48, with a vertically extending passage 88 communicating with a horizontalbore or passage 8|.

the pump 'housing'Y 45. A thirdbore 83 in the wall at its other end engageable with a cap 59l slidably 75 plate 45` communicates with the bore 82 and Y The horizontal bore communicates with-an axially alined bore 82 in with an intermediate conduit 84 inthe outlet member 11.

with the sleeve 4s inthe position shown in t Figure 7, fluid delivered by the pump gears 99" and 4 I cannot escape through the port 14 whereby a pressure is built up in the chamber 44. This pressure unseats ball valves 85 and 86 which are held respectively in closed position -by Vcompression springs 85' and 86', thereby permitting the ow of fluid into the conduits 16 and 16 and therefrom through the exible conduits 81 and 88 to the cylinders 28 and 36 connected,'respec tively, to the liftingl linkage at the front andV rear of the tractor. Pressure applied-to these .cylinders lifts the front and rear 'rigs at that side of the tractor to their transport positions g whereupon vthe pistons in the cylinders reachvthe end of theirstrokes. Pressure then lbuilds up in the bore 41 sufficiently to unseat the ball valve 62 against the compression spring which holds it in seated position, thereby permitting liquid to flow through the opening 64 in theiitting 69 to raise the cap 59 to release the latch member 56. When said latch member is released, the

- spring 13 rotates the member '59 to return the sleeve 48 to the neutral position shown in vFigure 7. The opening 14 is thus uncovered to bypass the uid supplied by the pump gears, whereupon the ball valves 85 and 86 are seated by their springs to lock the fluid in the cylinders and to hold the implements in their lifted position.

Referring to Figures V and 9, to accomplish the operation just described of lifting the implements at one side of the tractor, assuming they are in soil-working position, the lever 69 is moved entirely to the left and then shifted rearwardly pressure acts against the plunger 58 to rotate the latch member 56 sufficiently to engage the notch 55 with the head portion 58 of the actuating member 59. This position is then retained by the latch member until the pressure build-up in the chamber 94' is suicient to raise the cap 59 to release the latch 56 for allowing the spring 13 to return the sleeve to the right and to the neutral by-pass position. This same spring action throws the lever 69 forwardly to a center position where it strikes the abutment 90 which prevents its moving into a forward position in one of the opposite slots, the slots being staggered on opposite sides as viewed best in Figure 9. I

Previously in the description, it has been stated that the valve unit`B at the leftI sid'e of the structure shown in Figure 5 is identical with valve unit A shown at thek right side but which is supplied with fluid under pressure from the pump gears 39 and 4I. When the llever 69 is moved to the left and pulled rearwardly, as shown in Figure 9, into the slot 9|, the cylinders 2-8 and 36 at the opposite side of :the tractor, or in Figure 1 the cylinders on the upper part of the drawing, are operated by means of fluid delivered through the corresponding flexible conduits 81 and 88 leading from that side of the tractor. If follows that when the lever 69 is moved rearwardly into .the center slot 92, both of the arms 66 and 61 are engaged by one of the spaced plates 1l whereby both of the valve structures are opl 6 erated to simultaneously l both sides of the tractor both-at the front and at the rear,

Assuming all the implements are in lifted position, they can be lowered individually at either side by `shifting the lever 69 to the corresponding side and then moving it forwardly into the corresponding slot 93 at the left or'93' at the right,

depending on which side 'it is desiredto have affected. This action, however, 4will be followed through for the valve unit A at the right, as shown in Figure 5, which is actually at `the left of the tractor looking forwardly, as shown in Figure '1. Assuming the latch member 56 is released, .ro-

tation of the shaft 5| by forward movement of th/e lever 68 moves'the head portion 54 9i the member A50 beyond its pivot axis, as shown in Figure '1, to the left as shown in Figure 16. A ball-valve l operating member 94 is pivotedon a pin 96 tothe member 59. As the member 50,moves to' the left, said valve operating member 94 contacts push pins 96 and 96' extending through the chamber 444 into respective contact with the ball valves 85 andv86. Due to the difference in lever arms between the pivot pin 95 and the two pins96 and 96', the yvalve 85 is first opened a small 'amount as shown in Figure 16. When the lever 69 is -moved only a portion of its stroke forwardly,

' the sleeve memberv 48 is moved from the neutral positionof Figure 12 axially to the position shown in Figure 16 withl the arcuate slot 19 in registration with the bore 80 whereby fluid is drained from said .bore simultaneously with draining of iiuid from the bore'16. If it is desired todrainl liquid from the bore 16 only, thelever 69 is moved forwardly to the end of the slot whereby the sleeve 48. is moved to the position shown in Figure 17 closing the bore 89 and also opening the ball valve 86. By this means the front cylinder 28 is connected to the conduit 16 for return of fluid to the reservoir casing 38 whereby the front implement is rst lowered and prior to the dropping of the rear implement. This type of delayed action is covered kin the Mott application, previously referred to, and is shown here only in sumcient detail to illustrate how it functions in connection with the valve arrangement of this inventon. It is to be understood that the valve unit B for the implements at the other side of the tractor works in the same-manner.V By .movingthe lever 69 forwardly into the slot- 91, the

implements at both sides of the tractor can be lowered simultaneously.

Coming now to the principal feature of the invention and referring to Figure 4, the cylinder l 28 is provided with a closure head member 96 having a. threaded opening -99 for connection to the exible hose 81. Carried at the rear of said head member 98 isa second cylinder device H39 secured in :duid-tight relationship. This cylinder device includes a piston stop Illl which has a piston rod |92 extending through a packed opening H03 in the closure head member 98 and into,

the:cylinder28. As illustrated, a metallic packing member H04 abuts a resilientv packing mem-l ber E95 to provide a fluid-tight seal between :the two cylinders. vThe cylinder Hill is also provided with a threaded opening as indicated at |06 for connection of a fluid line 191 which is adapted to lue-connected tothe intermediate conduit 84 in the outlet member 11, previously described and shown Vin Figure'l.. It will be understood that when the implements are lowered the piston 21` of the cylinder 28 moves rearwardly until it engages the piston, rod 02 of the stop piston IDI.

un the implements at rearwardly a portion only of the depth of the slot 69 as shown' in Figure 13. The movement is such that theI slot 18 on the sleeve 48 is brought into registration with the passage 80. In this position of the'sleeve 48 pressure is supplied to the main cylinders through the ball valves 85 andBB. This t acts to adjust the implements upwardly from their previous ground-working position. As pressure is also supplied through the passage 80, the conduit` 84 and the flexible conduit |01 to the cylinder |00, the stop piston |I moves forwardly tothe left, as shown in Figure 4, following the piston 21 of the lifting cylinder 28. As the lever 69 is not moved forwardly in the slot 89, as shown in Figure 9, a. su'icient distance to engage the latch 5,6 with the member 50, the` spring 13 immediately returns the device to the open neutral position of Figure 13 when hand-pressure is released on the lever 69. By this means, the implements at either side of the tractor, at the front thereof,

are adjusted upwardly independently or simultaneously by moving the lever 69 rearwardly in the central slot 92. It is understood that the imple-4 ments at the rear of the tractor cannot be hydraulically adjusted by the construction as presently shown. This is relatively immaterial as the shovels at the rear are used primarily to take out the wheel tracks. Their position of adjustment is not so critical and is taken care of by the manually adjustable means 33-34 without much attention on the part of the operator.

To adjust the implements lower for greater working depth when they are in ground-working position, the lever 69 is valso used to individually lower. the front implements at either side or t0 lower both simultaneously. Considering only one side, reference is made to Figure 12. The lever 69 is moved to the right and rearwardly into the slot 91 a s'uilicient distance to engage the push l pin 96 and to move the sleeve member 48l to the position shown in Figure 16 whereby the ball valve 85 is opened. In this position the slot 19 registers with the passage 80 whereby uid is released from the stop cylinder |00 at 'the same time as uid is released from the cylinder 28.

The piston 21 is then permittedto move rearwardly so long as the valve is open, thereby carrying the stop piston |0| with it the same distance of movement. When the lever is returned to neutral position, the passage 80 is covered,A

, an operator may lift the implements and lower themto a previously .set working position out any intermediate adjustment.

It will be understood that normally in operwith- V ating the 'sleeve 48 to effect lifting of the implement the openings 18 and 19 will pass over the passage 80. However, when liftingorlowering, the action is such that no appreciable amount of ow takes place in either direction during the relatively rapid movement of the opening over the passage 80. The adjustment, therefore, is not disturbed except when the openings 18 and 19 are deliberately alined with the passage 80.

By the construction of parts and operation as above described, means has been provided utiliz-v ing a single device and a single operating lever to simultaneously lift and lower implements at both sides and at the rear of the tractor, to selectively lift and lower the implements at either side of the tractor and to effect independent or simultaneous adjustment by power of the front implements at either side of the tractor by means not aiiected by lifting or lowering operation whereby the implements can be lifted or returned to their initially adjusted positions. This is a very significant feature of operation for farm tractors, -as it is necessary to frequentlyraise the implements for turning at the ends of the rows to return the tractor over the field, without any attention given on 'the part of the operator, to the ground-Working positions of the implements which had been established before lifting the implements. It is desirable, however, at the same time to provide a means for readily adjusting the implements to a deeper or a 'shallower position without resortingv to manual mechanism such as has been used with conventional cylinder power lift devices.

It is also to be understood that adjusting means such as illustrated in connection with a tractor-mounted cultivating device is applicable to all forms of machinery or mechanisms where an adjustment is required along with a relatively larger movement of the power device without affecting the adjustment.

Applicant claims as his, invention all modifications of the device as illustrated which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1'. An implement adjusting means for tractors having an implement connected thereto, comprising a power-operated lifting device connected to the implement for adjusting the implement to two extreme positions and a part movable co-`- .of the lifting device in one direction, and said stop device being operable to change the 'position of said element for selectively determining the limit of such lifting device movement.

2. An implement adjusting means for tractors having an implement connected thereto, comprising a power-operated device connected to the implement for adjusting the implement` to two extreme positions, said device including la hydraulically actuated stop member selectively positionable to be engaged by an element of the lifting device when said device is moved in one direction distances correlated with the positioning of the stop member, and said stop member being operable when engaged to block further operation of the power-operated device in such direction.

3. An implement adjusting device for tractors having an implement connected thereto, comprising a duid-pressure pump operated from the power plant of the tractor, a Huid-pressure device connected to the implement for adjusting it to two extreme positions, a stop device settable to ,determine the limit of movement in one of said positions, and fluid-pressure responsive setting means for the stop device and operable when sub` jected to the pressure of uid discharge from said pump to change the location of said stop device. l

4. A hydraulic lift system for 'tractors having an implement .connected thereto comprising a ment between ay lifted position and an operating hydraulic pump operated from the power plant of the tractor, a fluid-pressure-adjusting device connected to the implement for lifting and lowering the implement, a iluid-pressure-operated stop device located to determine the limit of movement of nected thereto comprising a hydraulic pump op-A erated from the power plant of the tractor, a separate fluid-pressure device for independently adjusting each of the implements, a separate valve structure for controlling the flow of fluid from the pump to and from each of said iluid- Y pressure devices, each of said fluid-pressure devices including a main fluid operated piston and an auxiliary adjustable stop piston, said valvemeans being constructed and operable to supply fluid to and from the main piston alone or to and from both pistons simultaneously whereby the position of the stop may be adjusted or whereby the main piston may be moved and returned to its stopped position. i

6.A hydraulic lift system for tractors having a plurality of implements independently connected-thereto comprising a hydraulic pump operated from the power plant of the tractor, a separate iiuid-pressure device for independently adjusting each of the implements, a separate valvey structure for controlling the flow of fluid from the pump to and from each of said fluid-pressure devices, each of said huid-pressure devices including a fluid-operated piston and an auxiliary hydraulically adjustable stop means, said .valve means being constructed and operable to supply fluid to and from the piston alone or to and from the piston and the stop means 'simultaneously whereby thepiston of the stop means may be adjusted with movement of the piston or whereby the n ain piston may be moved and returned to its st pped position.

7. In a tractor and implement combination, means operable from the power plant of the tracposition,` said latter means including means for adjusting thev implement in its operating position and including a valve means, a control mechanism and an actuating means therefor manually operable into selectable locations, said actuating means in certain of its manually selectable locations being operable to adjust the implement in its operating position and being operable in other of its. manually selectablelocati'ons to move the y implementinto and out cf operating position without affecting the adjustment;

9'. In a tractor and kimplement combination,

a means for d'eveloping'uid under pressure op.-

tor for delivering fluid under pressure, means for moving the implement into and out of operating position including an expansible uid pressure device, valve means for controlling the delivery of uid under pressure thereto, stop means operated by fluid under pressure and thereby posiprising apower-operated device connected to the tionable to determine the limit of movement oi.

said pressure-operated device when moving the implement into operating position, said` valve means including means to control the pressure operable on said stop means, an operating means i for said valve means including means to simultaneously supply pressure to or relieve pressure from the stop device and the implement-moving hydraulic device for adjusting the operating position of the implement and to supply pressure or relieve pressure only to the implementemoving huid-pressure device for lifting'an'd lowering the implement without disturbing its limit of movement determined by a previouslyl selected position 8. In a tractor 'and implement combination, 'a1

- means for developing fluid under pressure oper;-J

able from the power plant of the tractor, fluidpressure-operated means for moving the impleerable from the power plant of the tractor, iluid-A pressure-operated means for moving/'the implement into and out of operating positions, said lat- .ter means including means for adjusting the im'- plement in its range of operating positions and tions to move the implement into and out of its adjusted operating position without affecting the adjustment.

10. An implement lifting and adjusting system for tractors having van implement connected thereto, comprising a power-operated device connected to the implement for lifting and lowering the same, a power-operatedstop device located to determine the limit of movement of the lifting and lowering device in one direction, and means for controlling the application of power to said deviceslto selectively determine concurrent or individual operation.

11. An implement lifting and adjusting system for tractors having an implement connected thereto, comprising a power-operated deviceconnected to the implement for lifting andv lowering the same, a power-operated stop device located to determine the limit of movement of the lifting and lowering`devic'e in one direction, and means includinga single control member manipulative for determining the application of power to said devices to selectively incur concurrent operation of said devices or individual operation of the lifting and lowering device while leaving thestop device at a selected position to establish a limit for the movement of the lifting and lowering device in the one direction.4

12. An implement adjusting means for tractors ,having an limplement 'connected thereto, comimplement for adjusting the implement to two extremev positions, manual control means for said device, said device'including a stop member positionable to be engagedby an element of the lifting device when moved in one direction, power- `operated means for alteringl the position of said stop member, and manual control means for said power-operated means, said stopmember being operable when engaged to discontinue operation of the power-operated device. y

j 1 3. An implement adjusting means for tractors having an implement connected thereto, said im .plement having a part supported for adjustment,`

comprising -a manually controllable adjusting device `connected to'v said implement part for adjusting saidpart between twoipositions, an vengage'able stop device cooperatively arranged with-respect to said device, and manually` con.- trollable power operable means' for positioning` Ll1 n i said stop device to determine the limit'of moven ment of the adjusting device in one direction.

14. An implement adjusting device for tractors l having an implement connected thereto, comprising` iiuidpressure pumping means operated from the power plant of the tractor, a fluidpressure operated device connected to the implement for adjusting it to two extreme positions, a stopy device located to determine the limit of movement in one of said extremepositlons, power operable fluid-pressure operated means operable to change the location of said stop device, fluld Yconnections between said pumping means and said fluid-pressure operated device and said fluid-pressure operated means, valve means operable when actuated to control the supply of. fluid to the Huid-pressure device and to thereby move the implement from one extreme position to the other and to then automatically discontinue the application, of uid pressure to said device, and additional valve means operable when actuated to control the supply of fluid to the fluld-pressureoperated means for selectively part to be adjusted, and an implement lifting and adjusting device, said device comprising a fluid pump connected to the power plant of the tractor` for operation thereby, a fluid reservoir. a cylinder and piston device located on said implement at a point removed from said reservoir locating said stop device in any position through-` v out its range of movement. l n

15. An implement adjusting device for tractors having an implementv connected thereto, comprising a fluid-pressure pump operated from the power plant of the tractor, a uid-pressureopn erated device lconnected to the implement for adjusting it to two extreme positions, a stop and being connected to thev implement part for adjusting the same, valve structure associated with the reservoir and saidzpump, actuating means for said valve structure, a flexible fluid conduit connecting said cylinder' and the valve second piston device being operative to actuate the valve structure to stop the iiowvof fluid to the rst named cylinder upon the iirst named piston reaching a predetermined position in its path of travel. Y

19. The combination of a tractor having a power plant, an implement'structure flexibly device located to determine the limit of movement inv one of said extreme positions, power operable huid-pressure operated means operable to change the location of said stop device, fluid connections between said pump and said fluid-A pressure operated device and said fluid-pressure operated means, valve means operable when actuated to move the implement from one extreme position to the other and to' then automatically discontinue the application of fluid pressure to the fluid-pressure operated device, and additional valve means operable to actuate the duid-pressure operated means for selectively locating said stop device in any position throughout its range of movement. f

16. An implement adjusting means for tractors having an implement connected thereto, said implement having a part supported for adjustment, comprising a manually controllable adjusting device connected to said implement part for'adjustingsaid part between two positions, an engageable stop device cooperatively arranged with respect to said device, and manually controllable power operable means for positioning said stop device to determine the linut' of movement of the adjusting -device in one direction. I

1'1. An implement adjusting means for tractors having an implement connected thereto, said imadjustment, comprising manually controllable means connected to said implement part for adconnected to the tractor and having a movable connected to the. tractor and' having a movable part to be adjusted, and an implement lifting and adjusting device. said device comprising a fluid pump connected yto the power plant of the tractor for operationthereby, a fluid reservoir, a cylinder and piston device located on said implement' at a point removed from said reservoir and being connected to the implement part for adjusting the same, valve structure associated withi the reservoir and said pump, actuating `means for said valve structure, `a flexible fluid conduit connecting said cylinder and the valve structure, said valve ystructure having means operable to deliver lluid under pressure from the pump to the cylinder through said conduit for movement of the piston in one direction nd means to provide for return flow of fluid for movement of the piston in the other direction, a second auxiliary flexible fluid conduit serving as means for confining a pressure transmitting uid connecting the valve structure andthe cylinder and piston device,` a second auxiliary iiuid pressure piston device carried by and operating in conjunction with said rst named device and being associated therewith,and with the auxiliary conduit, said second piston device being operative to actuate the valve structure to stop the flow of fluid to the rst named cylinder upon the rstnamed piston reaching a predetermined position in its path of travel.

20. The combination of a tractor having a power plant, an implement structure exibly connected to the tractor and having a movable part to be adjusted', and an implement lifting and adjusting device, said device comprising a fluid vpump operably connected to the power plant of the tractor for operation thereby, a fluid reservoir, a cylinder and piston device located at a point removed from the reservoir, valve structure associatedwith the reservoir and the pump, iluid conducting means interconnecting said pump, said reservoir, and said valve structure, actuating meansk for said valve structure, a

flexible fluid conduit connecting said cylinder and the valve structure, said valve structure having means operable to deliver-,fluid under pressure from the pump to the cylinder'through said' conduit for movement ofthe piston in one direction and means providing for return owy of fluid Y for movement of the piston in the other direc- 'ment in one of said ldirections whereby different movement limiting vpositions may be determined,

exible iluld conducting means between sa'i having a shiftable element structurally associated l with said piston positionable to determine the limit of movement of the piston in one direction,

the engagement of the piston with the stop element providing means for bringing about the building Yup of pressure sumcient to actuate the pressure responsive device, said stop being adjustableto a plurality of positions to predetermine the position at whichthe piston is stopped in its movement and at which the supply of fluid under pressure to the cylinder is discontinued.

21. The combination of a tractor having a power plant, an implement structure flexibly connected to the tractor and having a movable part to be adjusted, and an implement lifting and adjusting device, said-device comprising a fluid pump operably connected to the power plant of the tractor for operation thereby, a fluid reservoir, a cylinder and piston device located at a point removed from the reservoir, valve structure associated with the reservoir and the pump, iluid conducting means interconnecting said pump, said reservoir, and said valve structure, actuating means for said valve structure, a ilexible iiuid conduit connecting said cylinder andI the valve structure, said valve structure having means operable to deliver iiuid under pressure from the pump to the cylinder through said conduit for movement of the piston in one direction and means providing for return flow of fluid for movement of the piston in the other direction, said valve structure including a pressure responsive device connected to the valve structure for shifting it automatically from a position in which fluid under pressure is supplied to the conduit to a position in ywhich fluid supply to said conduit'is cut o upon the attaining of a predetermined pressure in said pressure supply conduit, and a stop device having a shiftable element structurally associated with said piston positionable to determine the limit of movement of the piston in one direction, the engagement of the piston with the stop element providing means for bringing about the building up of pressure suilicient to actuate the pressure responsive device, said stop being adjustable to a plurality of positions to predetermine the position at which the piston is stopped in its movement and at which the supply of iluid under pressure to the cylinder is discontinued.'

22. The combination of a tractor having a power plant, an implement structure ilexibly connected to the tractor and having a 'movable part to be adjusted, and an implement lifting and adjusting device, said device comprising fluid pressure pumping means operated from the tractor power plant, a unitary uid pressure operated device operable in two directions and re-v means locatable to determine thelimit of move-N pump means and said fluid pressure operated device, valve mechanism interposed ln said fluid conducting means between the pumping means and the pressure operated device, said valve mechanism including valve means operable when actuated to supply fluid to the pressure operated device, a pressure responsive device associated with the fluid conducting means and provided with means operable upon the supply of a uid thereto under a predetermined pressure to stop the supply of fluid under pressure to the fluid pressure operated device.

23. The combination of a tractor having a power plant, an implement structure flexibly connectedv to the tractor and having a movable part to be adjusted, and an implement lifting and adjusting device, said device comprising uld pressure pumping means operated from the tractor power plant, a unitary fluid pressure -means locatable to determine the limit of move` ment in one of said directions whereby different movement limiting positions may be determined, exible fluid conducting. meansv between said pump means and said fluid pressure operated device, valve mechanism interposed in said fluid conducting means between the pumping means andsthe `pressure operated device, said valve mechanism including valve means operable when actuated to supply uid to the pressure operated device, a pressure responsive device associated with said valve means and provided with means operable upon the supply of a fluid thereto under a predetermined pressure to operate the valve means from a position in which iiuid is supplied under pressure to the fluid pressurev operated device to a position in which the liquid is by-passed, said pressure responsive device being connected to the fluid conducting means and to the fluid pressure operated device to deliver liquid to said pressure responsive device and to thereby bring about actuation of the valve means when pressure in the fluid conducting means reaches the predetermined pressure at which the pressure responsive means is operable.

24. The combination of .a tractor having a power plant, an implement structure flexibly connected to the tractor and having a movable part to be adjusted, and an implement lifting and adjusting device, said device comprising fluid pressure pumping means operated from the tractor power plant, a iiuid pressure operated device operable in two directions connected to the adjustable implement element to provide for movement thereof in two directions, a stop device associated with said uid pressure operated device locatable to determine the limit of movement in one of said directions, means to adjust said stop device whereby diierent movement limiting positions may be determined, a flexible fluid conducting means between said pump means and said fluid pressure operated device, and valve Imechanism interposed in said uid conducting means between the pumping means and the V pressure operated device, said valve mechanism 25. The combination of a tractor having a power plant, an implement structure flexibly connected to the tractor and having a movable part to be, adjusted, and an implement lifting and adjusting device, said device comprising uid pressure pumping means operated from the tractor power plant, a fluid pressure operated device operable in two directions connected to the adjustable implement element to provide for movement thereof in two directions, a stop device associated with said fluid pressure operated device locatable to determine the limit of movement in one of said directions, means to adjust said stop device whereby different movement limiting positions may be determined, a flexible iiuid conducting means between said pump means and said fluid pressure operated device, valve mechanism interposed in said fluid conducting means between the pumping means and the pressure operated device, said valve mechanisml including valve means operable when actuated to supply fluid to the pressure operated device, and a pressure responsive device associated with said valve means and provided with means operable upon the supply of a liquid thereto-under a predetermined pressure to operate thevalve means from a position in which iluid is ysupplied 'under pressure to the fluid pressure operated device to a position in which the liquid is by-passed, said pressure responsive device being connected to the fluid conducting means and to the fluid pressure operated device to deliver liquid to said pressure responsive device and to thereby bring about actuation of the valve means when pressure piston slidable therein connected to said adjust-l ablepart for moving the latter to an extent corresponding to the movement of the piston, iiexible means transmitting uid under pressure from said pressure source to said cylinder to force said piston in one direction therein, means providing for movement of the piston in the other direction, means accessible to the tractor operator for controlling the iiow of fluid from .said pressure source to said cylinder, auxiliary adjusting means associated with the cylinder for selectively limiting the stroke of the piston in said cylinder in one direction and therefore the extent of movement of said implement adjustable part. and means accessible to the operator from his station on the tractor for selectively controlling said auxiliary adjusting means.

27. In combination with a tractor having an operators station and a power plant, an implement flexibly connected to the tractor having an adjustable part, a iluid power operated device including a source of fluid pressure on the tractor deriving power therefrom, a cylinder adapted to be associated with the implement having a piston slidable therein connected to said adjustable part for moving the latter to an extent corresponding to the movement of the piston, iiexible conduit means provided for transmitting iiuid under pressure from said pressure source to said cylinder to move said piston in one direction therein. said lconduit means also providing for return iiow of fluid from the cylinder to permit movement of the piston in the other direction, means accessible to the tractor operator for controlling the flow of uid from said pressure source to said cylinder, auxiliary adjusting means associated with ,the cylinder for selectively limiting the stroke of the piston in said cylinder and therefore the extent of movement of said implement adjustable part, and means accessible -to the operator from his station on the tractor for selectively controlling said auxiliary adjusting means.

RUSSEL D. ACTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Switzerland 1920 

